Thursday, October 02, 2008

I have to say, I listened to every word and I mean EVERY word! First we have Sarah coming out, shaking Joe Biden's hand and asking if she can call him Joe - which near the end of the debate - I know why she asked that question. Her coaches gave her a sharp retort to use (if possible) and she found her opening to let out "Say it ain't so Joe, there ya go again!" We heard enough of the Alaskan folksy banter and a good deal of bad grammar, i.e. "we have not got...", now that hurt my eardrums.

My overall judgement of this debate is that it wasn't boring by any means. I knew that Palin would come out, self assured and present herself well. She had her cheat sheet with her, the one that contained all the pertinent talking points, and tried her best to utilize them as best she could. But Biden showed exemplary knowledge and this was one of his better debates.

When both candidates were asked "what programs would you cut due to the change in economic atmosphere" (i'm paraphrasing) - Biden was immediate and upfront with the programs that would be affected - yet Palin could not name anything and again, relied on her "Wall Street corruption & greed" line, or her energy stance.

Biden detailed the Obama/Biden Iraq exit strategies and Palin could not elaborate but again back to Wall Street and energy, of course that was after she told "Joe" that he was "waving the white flag of surrender" in his affirmations. (Again, a talking point directly from her cheat sheet.)

I think, that Palin knew she had to come out on this stage and try her best to repair her intensely damaged image. I honestly do not believe she achieved that goal with the masses. People, by and large, can tell the difference between scripted and rehearsed lines as opposed to spontaneous. She shuffled her papers to get to her tag lines for the applicable questions. I have to admit, I am sick of her smiling smirk - for lack of a better description.

When Joe Biden was detailing the comments by General McKiernan today, and how the General made the statement that an Iraqi type "surge" would not work in Afghanistan - she came back at Biden, saying he was wrong that Gen. McClellan (she got the name wrong twice) did not say that - well, excuse me - YES HE DID!! Joe Biden could have corrected her, but held his tongue.

Her fall back line was that she wasn't a Washington person, just an outsider, you know what I mean - JOE SIX-PACK kinda guy. ARGH!!!!!! But, Biden came back to bring himself down to the everyman's position - from Wilmington, DE to Scranton, PA, and mentioning the everyman's favorite store - HOME DEPOT!! He could match point on point, even on the family values which she tried to corner as her own. He knows the single parent responsibilities and tragedies within a family - since she wanted to bring up her special needs child and son in Iraq - and brought out those valid points.

My big question - which we will never hear an answer to - Sarah Palin believes that there is more flexibility to the VP position and that is something that the McCain/Palin ticket will explore. Did I miss something? The Vice President's role is clearly spelled out in the Articles of the Constitution - to preside over the Senate, but only votes in the case of a tie, and advise the President. Now, maybe Dick Cheney has a different idea (golly gee, I think he did that), but it is not a practice that will be tolerated in the future, I'm sure.

There were way too many times when Palin could not answer the question and again changed the topic to one which she had notes. I will be waiting to see what all the other pundits have to say tomorrow...but CNN's poll has come in and it was Joe Biden favored 51% to Palin's 36%. 84% thought Biden did a better job than expected and the percentge was the same for Palin. I was more than impressed when Biden essentially said that use of the "maverick" towards McCain was no longer flying.

Do I think this debate helped McCain - probably. Not massively but maybe a small kick. McCain pulled out of Michigan today (he knows he can't beat Obama there) - and is now going to sink more effort into Maine. At this point in time, I want Obama to saturate Ohio with campaign stops, literature, whatever it takes - because we are truly a toss-up state.

We shall have to wait and see if the McCain militia will let Sarah fly on her own now. People will be making the minds up till the last minute (unfortunately some still undecided), and see how her future news interviews fare. Past experience hasn't been well for her spontaneous answers - so we shall all have to wait and see.

Now we will gear up for another Obama and McCain debate this coming Tuesday. Hell, before you know it - it will be November 4th!!! I shall return later - you betcha!

4 comments:

Good post-debate analysis themom. Essentially, that vapid woman did not answer a single question. But her stuff about Veep's and executive power scared me.

I think Biden cinched it with his almost breakdown when talking about his wife and daughter. It was genuine and I think America though it was too. That bitch responded some nonsensical rant with a smile on her face after Biden said that.

"My big question - which we will never hear an answer to - Sarah Palin believes that there is more flexibility to the VP position and that is something that the McCain/Palin ticket will explore. .... The Vice President's role is clearly spelled out in the Articles of the Constitution - to preside over the Senate, but only votes in the case of a tie, and advise the President. Now, maybe Dick Cheney has a different idea (golly gee, I think he did that), but it is not a practice that will be tolerated in the future, I'm sure"

Most important part of the debate and I'm glad you also highlighted it. Precedence matters....when lawmakers or judges or executives do something that is not challenged, there is precedence for future leaders to do the same thing. This is why the Cheney-Unitary executive Hypothesis must be challenged and destroyed. She obviously was coached on this but has no true understanding of the implications. Loved Biden's answer...Article I lays it all out.

As for the implications of this debate...there will be no bump or deflection. Biden won, the polls showed it, even the pundits agreed. Just because she didn't shit her pants on stage and run away crying doesn't mean she did well. And she foretold her strategy for the next month...avoid the media at all costs. She will stick with "talking to America" through her coordinated and prewritten stump speeches. No more one-on-ones with journalists or even questions from real "joe sixpacks"...she'll only be taking preapproved questions from the 23 percenters that are allowed in to their campaign appearances.

Sarah did what she had to do. Biden did a decent job, but he fumbled through some parts (he said "million" instead of "billion" once, he stuttered some times). But remember who will mostly see the debate and subsequent highlights: a great number of "joe six-packs".

Is Joe Six-Pack this elections "NASCAR Dad"? If that is the case, he needs called "Joe Twelve-Pack".

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About Me

Born and raised in Parkersburg, WV - moved to Bellaire, Ohio in 1974. I am the proud mother of 3 and grandmother of 3. Opinionated of course and political follower. Blog as a therapeutic outlet - whether it makes sense or not. Enjoy.